Localis urges greater city powers

Author: Local Government Chronicle - Oct 7, 2009

Major British cities, such as Manchester, should be given more freedom and powers, according to a new report from Localis and Policy Exchange.

The report concludes that the current centralised performance regime - resulting in ‘earned’ powers for cities - prevents local strategic aims being achieved.

The report, Can Localism Deliver: The Example of Manchester, and will offers 10 lessons which should be learnt nationally from the Greater Manchester City Region.

James Morris, chief executive of Localis, said: "This vision for city governance represents an important step to moving Britain towards the localist future it now desires.

"Local government - including city regions such as Greater Manchester - requires new powers and responsibilities to achieve this aim".

Key recommendations include:

Regional Development Agencies should be disbanded, with their powers and budgets devolved to local government - including cities where appropriate. Direct control over regeneration investment and strategic planning, in addition to powers over skills and transport policy should be devolved

Funding needs to be based upon outcomes rather than institutions. This could for example be achieved through pooled budgeting. Policy failures have occurred in the past because government schemes failed to take into account the particular needs of localities

Local government needs greater extra financial incentives and economic freedoms to deliver their aims more effectively. This can be achieved through re-localising business rates, in addition to allowing councils to keep savings from the Operational Efficiency Programme

Equalisation has the potential to damage the strength of the national economy, and can focus funding on schemes which have little or no beneficial outcomes. Investment should focus on connecting places to economic hubs - for example through improved transport links.

Go to the original article here